Driving a car can be extremely dangerous due to the many distractions and dangers on the road. One of these dangers is other drivers on the road, including motorcyclists. In recent years, motorcycles have become extremely popular and more motorists are seen on the road each day. According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcyclists were about 26 times more likely than passengers to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled in 2012 and five times more likely to be injured. As you have probably noticed, motorcycles can be very dangerous, and we want to give you some tips for driving safely with motorcycles on the road, including avoiding many distractions, such as cell phones, using turn signals, and staying alert at all times.

There are many general distractions while driving a car, including children, using audio entertainment, eating and drinking, as well as using satellite navigation. Although these are all distractions that you should be very careful with and try to avoid, there is one distraction that outweighs all of these, and that is using your cell phone while driving. In 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones, and they found that text messaging makes a crash 23 times more likely to happen. A cell phone can be extremely dangerous while driving and cause auto accidents on the road. Instead of picking your phone up to make a phone call while driving, use a hands-free device, such as a Bluetooth headset, or if your car has a built in Bluetooth system, take advantage of that. With regards to text messages, it can wait. You shouldn’t attempt to read or send text messages while driving, as they cause many car and motorcycle accidents. Following these tips and avoiding cell phone usage in the car, will definitely decrease the likelihood of an accident.

The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC offers free resources to learn more about Michigan motorcycle accidents, rules of the road, and treatment for injuries.

Another thing that causes a many accidents on the road is poor turn signal usage according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. According to a study conducted by the Response Insurance, 57% of drivers admitted that they don’t use their turn signals when changing lanes. 47% of these people said they don’t have time, 23% said they’re too lazy, 17% said they’re afraid they’ll forget to turn it off, 11% said they’re too busy changing lanes a lot to use it, and 7% of them said it adds excitement to driving.

A recent Society of Automotive Engineers study found that the failure to use turn signals results in more than twice the number of accidents that are caused by distracted driving. Experts agree, taking the time to use proper turn signal techniques will lower your chances of being involved in an auto accident.

These tips will improve your safety while driving, especially when there are motorcycles on the road. In addition to these cell phone and turn signal tips, there are a few general ones that will certainly help as well. Always look out for motorcyclists, by using your eyes and mirrors to see what’s around you. Make sure you are always focused on the driving your vehicle by avoiding all distractions. Finally, simply take your time while driving, don’t rush, and give motorcyclists more room. Although motorcycles may not seem large, they still need plenty of room to operate.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of auto accident cases. The Michigan Law Firm can help victims of car crashes deal with insurance companies and medical bills to ensure a peaceful and healthy recovery process. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.